I'm the type of person who watches what's happening and tries to understand it. I wonder why something happens as it does. Then I wonder if it can be done any better.
I do that while I'm running. My feet hurt... why ? That lap was faster... why ? I seem to be extra tired today... why ? That run seemed to be easy... why ?
If I can answer the questions -- then I can improve my running. If I can't answer the questions then I think about it... try different options... try to understand.
I'm not a person to blindly follow advice. First, I need to understand the advice. I need to gain at least an intuitive understanding of why that particular advice could help.
After all, not all advice is good... And even "good" advice may not suit my specific circumstances.
Remember the movie, The King's Speech ? The king was advised to take up smoking in order to cure his stuttering. Expert advice at the time... though it would have lost favour in later years.
So. I analyse and try to understand what I'm doing. Then I try to improve it. I analyse and try to understand advice that I hear and read. Then accept it or reject it or modify it.
btw: If any of what I'm writing strikes you as being "advice" -- please think before acting on the "advice" ! Listen, analyse, understand why it may work... Then understand how it could work for you... Then adapt what you do -- or not.
I write about what works for me. You may gain some useful ideas or insights. Whether or not you take action -- is your decision. It's more than just, See your doctor first. Ultimately, what you do or don't do, is your own responsibility.
So I'm a logical, analytical sort of person. And I read Danny Dreyer's book on Chi Running. Interesting ! A lot of his ideas match my own ideas ! I avoid heel strike running, so does Dreyer. I find that short steps are better, Dreyer recommends it. The general agreement means that a lot of what Dreyer recommends must be right :-)
Only trouble is, Dreyer describes chi running in rather mystic terms. As I'm reading I'm thinking, Should I be saying Om right now ?? Too much focus of the chi, too little rational explanation. Well, that's my impression, anyway.
The way I run has some similarities to Dreyer's chi running. There are differences, too. I do what I have found will suit me. Chi running is good (in my opinion). My own style of running is better -- for me. I do it my way. Starting with that word, "chi".
For Chi Running, "chi" is a Chinese word, pronounced "chee". Used a lot in eastern style fighting and exercise. (And by Modesty Blaise, so that's good.) When I see "chi" I think of the mathematical term, pronounced "kai" to rhyme with sigh. It's a Greek letter. Often seen in the statistical expression, "chi square".
Mathematics is logical and analytical. No, I'm not a mathematician. And I've never mastered statistics. But my approach is more "chi square" logical. Rather than "focus your chi" oriental mastery and mystery.
So my running -- and this blog -- are Chi Square. Logical, analytical, explaining in terms that I, at least, understand and accept. Analysed as it works for me. And there may be something useful for you, too. If you analyse it and understand it and apply it to your own specific situation...
You have a choice: Follow my Chi Square Runner blog. I hope it will be entertaining. It may be useful. Or follow the well documented Chi Running advice. It's thorough, and has been around for a while. Or... find your own path...
Welcome to my blog ! I hope you return regularly :-) And all the time, follow your own path.
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btw: I was worried that "Chi Square Runner" is too close to "Chi Running". They are not related ! I tried to find a unique name for this blog. The only one that was acceptable was... ChiSquareRunner. So, with apologies for any confusion: Chi Square Runner it is.
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